Netanyahu will not be arrested in US, Trump says, as NY mayor Mamdani mulls options

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not face arrest during any visit to the United States, responding implicitly to statements from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding the enforcement of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump declared that Netanyahu would not be arrested “in any way, shape, or form” while in the country. Although the US president did not name Mamdani directly in his post, he acknowledged Israel’s assistance in the conflict with Iran.

Legal considerations in New York

The developments follow remarks by Mayor Mamdani, who assumed office in January. In an interview broadcast on Saturday, Mamdani revealed that New York City’s legal department was actively examining what action local law might permit. During his mayoral campaign, he had pledged that city police would arrest Netanyahu should he set foot in New York.

Speaking on a New York Times video podcast, Mamdani stated that Netanyahu belonged in The Hague and described him as a war criminal charged by the ICC. Netanyahu traditionally travels to New York every September for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.

Jurisdiction and Israeli response

Israel responded to Mamdani’s comments on Sunday via a post on social media platform X, dismissing the ICC as a “kangaroo court” and describing the arrest warrant as bogus. The statement added that the mayor appeared intent on diverting public attention from his own shortcomings by attacking Israel’s leadership.

The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The Hague-based tribunal issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 over alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict. Both Israel and the United States are non-members of the court; Israel rejects its jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes.

Mamdani and Trump previously held an unexpectedly friendly meeting at the White House last November following the mayoral election, despite having previously exchanged public insults.